Christian enclave known as 'God's Square Mile' who banned people from using public beaches due to bizarre belief could finally be stopped after they 'made people buy badges with the CROSS on them'

'God's Square Mile,' a New Jersey Christian enclave, could be stopped from banning people from using public beaches on Sunday mornings. 

The state of New Jersey is suing the religious group in a case that could result in the community being charged $25,000 a day in fines for violating beach access laws.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, which owns all the land in the small town of Ocean Grove including the beach, claims the policy is in accordance with its religious belief about the Lord's Day.

It also argues that the rule is about giving lifeguards time off, advancing a 'better quality of life' and keeping more parking available for other businesses on a Sunday. 

However, New Jersey argues in legal filings that the chains and locks used to keep the public off the sand violates the association's authority to operate a beach. 

A New Jersey Christian enclave could be stopped from banning people from using public beaches on Sunday mornings

Local resident Harriet Bernstein (right, pictured with her partner, left)  said, 'I feel less comfortable because of the imposition of their religion on everybody that lives here' 

The Association has deleted the rule stating that the beach will be closed until 12 pm on Sundays from its website. 

However, in its own legal filings the Association argues that the state is attempting to violate the group's constitutional right to freedom of religion, the taking of private property and due process and equal protection. 

'All members of the public are welcome [onto the beach] 365 days a year. Anyone, regardless of race, creed, religion or orientation is welcome onto this private property 99.5% of the year,' the Association wrote in its filing. 

They added that restricting access to the beach for 45 hours of the year between Memorial Day and Labor Day is 'abundantly reasonable.' 

Ocean Grove, 60 miles south of New York City, was originally founded in 1869 as a Methodist retreat.

'We just feel that's wrong, that it's not what America is supposed to be about, and it makes living here very uncomfortable when you're gay, when you're Jewish, an atheist or agnostic,' local resident Paul Martin, who is Jewish, told the Associated Press. 

The state is suing the religious group in a case that could result in the community being charged $25,000 a day in fines

Ocean Grove, 60 miles south of New York City, was originally founded as a Methodist retreat

The Association also requires all visitors to the beach to purchase badges that have religious crosses on them 

'We have the right to live here, too,' Aliza Greenblatt, who is also Jewish, told AP. 

She went on to say, 'We're not anti-Christian. We just want the line between church and state to be respected.' 

The Association also requires all visitors to the beach to purchase badges that have religious crosses on them.

For some, that feels like an 'imposition.'   

'I feel less comfortable because of the imposition of their religion on everybody that lives here,' Harriet Bernstein, who is in a lesbian relationship, said. 

Of the crosses, she added, 'I'm Jewish; I don't wear crosses.'